Walk through any antique mall around Valentine's Day and you'll see them...PILES of them. Simple flat ones from a sack, each with one for teacher, or ornate Victorian things with crepe paper accordion fanfolds. You'll see them again next year too, likely the very same ones. Why? Because everyone saves their valentines. They glue them into scrapbooks, pile them in boxes, whatever.

There ARE valuable valentines, but they aren't for me.

I suggest everyone collect HANDMADE Valentines. Not only are they far more personal, more meaningful, more honest and more beautiful...they are also far more scarce. The more primitive and beat-up, the better. Valuable valentines? Pristine. Homemade valentines? Authentic.